Troy transfer QB Matthew Caldwell signs with Texas

The Alabama product provides some experience behind Arch Manning.

The Texas Longhorns made a surprise addition from the NCAA transfer portal on Sunday, signing former Troy Trojans quarterback Matthew Calwell to provide experienced depth behind redshirt sophomore starter Arch Manning.

The 6’4, 212-pounder has one season of eligibility remaining and previously played at Jacksonville State and Gardner-Webb.

An unranked recruit out of Auburn (Ala.) in the 2021 recruiting class, Caldwell signed with Jacksonville State and played in three games as a true freshman, completing 14-of-30 passes for 136 yards and rushing five times for 27 yards and a touchdown.

After the 2021 season, Caldwell transferred to Gardner-Webb and served as the backup quarterback, appearing in six games while completing 33-of-55 passes for 374 yards and a touchdown and rushing for two touchdowns. In 2023, Caldwell played in four games, completing 81-of-128 passes for 709 yards and five touchdowns while rushing 20 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. In a game against Elon, Caldwell was earned honorable mention FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors with a 32-of-46 passing performance for 296 yards and two touchdowns, adding 21 rushing yards and a touchdown.

In 2024, Caldwell reunited with his high school head coach Adam Winegarden, the Director of Leadership/High School Relations at Troy. In six starts, including against Iowa, Caldwell completed 141-of-223 passes for 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions and five rushing touchdowns, the most by a Trojans quarterback since 2017.

Caldwell threw multiple passing touchdowns in four straight games, including four against Louisiana, and earned Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Georgia Southern when he completed 26-of-32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns.

In Troy’s 38-21 loss to Iowa, Caldwell went 14-of-21 passing for 156 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The touchdown pass was a 63-yarder.

Manning was the only quarterback in AJ Milwee’s position room who has attempted a pass in college, so Caldwell provides experience for the Longhorns and will compete with redshirt freshman Trey Owens and freshman KJ Lacey for the backup job.

In head coach Steve Sarkisian’s first four seasons, injuries have forced the backup to play significant snaps each year.